Intervals - Employee Free Time
If employees can have intervals with negative start or end times (e.g., [-5, 0]) or zero-length intervals, which modification to the sweep line algorithm is necessary to correctly find free time?
If employees can have intervals with negative start or end times (e.g., [-5, 0]) or zero-length intervals, which modification to the sweep line algorithm is necessary to correctly find free time?
hard🎤 Interviewer Follow-up Q15 of Q15
Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1: Handle zero-length intervals
Zero-length intervals like [2,2] do not represent busy time and should be ignored to avoid false free intervals.Step 2: Maintain correct sorting order
Sorting end events before start events at same time prevents reporting free time between touching intervals or zero-length intervals.Final Answer:
Option A -> Option AQuick Check:
Ignoring zero-length intervals and correct sorting avoids invalid free times [OK]
Quick Trick: Ignore zero-length intervals and sort end before start events [OK]
Common Mistakes:
MISTAKES- Counting zero-length intervals as free time
- Sorting start before end events
Trap Explanation:
PITFALL- Naive sorting or including zero-length intervals causes incorrect free time detection.
Interviewer Note:
CONTEXT- Tests candidate's ability to adapt algorithm to relaxed constraints and edge cases.
Master "Employee Free Time" in Intervals
Want More Practice?
15+ quiz questions · All difficulty levels · Free
Free Signup - Practice All QuestionsMore Intervals Quizzes